chapter 64

Chapter 64: The Wrath of Zetsuei

The sloth demon leaned lazily against a jagged pillar of stone, its glowing red eyes fixed on Seraphine. Despite its apparent nonchalance, the air around it thrummed with restrained malice. It smirked as Camilla ushered the last of the refugees toward the tunnels.

"Run all you want," the demon sneered, its deep voice echoing with unnatural reverberation. "I'll savor crushing your hope when you realize there's no escape. You humans... always so predictable."

Seraphine glared at the demon but didn't engage, instead helping Camilla guide the refugees through the hidden passage. The demon made no immediate move to stop her, its gaze filled with mocking amusement. It finally stepped forward, trailing shadows like tendrils of ink.

Before it could get to them, Alarcus stepped in. "You're not getting past me."

The sloth demon sneered but said nothing. Alarcus clenched his fist, and Zetsuei appeared at his side, silent and poised for battle.

Alarcus extended his hand, his voice steady despite the chaos. "Zetsuei, second form—activate."

The sleek blue-and-silver golem standing beside him suddenly halted, its body shuddering as if resonating with Alarcus's command. A faint hum filled the air, growing into a low, rhythmic pulse that echoed like a heartbeat. The glowing purple runes etched into Zetsuei's frame began to shift, rearranging themselves into intricate patterns that radiated energy.

Its shadowy, humanoid silhouette started to distort, limbs elongating and streamlining. The once-solid plates of its body split apart, revealing a darker core pulsating with light. Like liquid metal, the plates realigned, layering themselves into a sleeker, more aerodynamic form.

Zetsuei's once-sturdy legs elongated into sharp, pointed blades, and its arms transformed into dual-pronged appendages, crackling with condensed energy. Its head shifted, flattening into a sharp, angular design with glowing streaks that formed an almost predatory mask.

From its back, shadowy wisps erupted like wings, curling and flexing as if alive. They rippled with magical energy, exuding a faint mist that dissipated into the air. The transformation ended with a powerful shockwave, scattering dust and debris around it as Zetsuei's new form stood ready, sleek and menacing.

"Good," Alarcus muttered, his eyes narrowing as he took a step forward. "Let's show him what you can do."

In an instant, Zetsuei moved, its speed blurring the space between them. The demon barely had time to react as Zetsuei unleashed a flurry of precise strikes, forcing it outside the crumbling base. Shadows coiled around the demon, absorbing the blows, but the sheer force of Zetsuei's attacks pushed it back.

"Seraphine, go!" Alarcus shouted over the cacophony of battle. She hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting between him and the tunnels.

"Keep them safe," he urged, his tone firm.

Reluctantly, Seraphine followed Camilla and the refugees, disappearing into the dark tunnels.

Outside, the battle raged. The sloth demon retaliated, hurling crackling orbs of lightning at Alarcus and Zetsuei. Alarcus sprinted to the side, dodging one bolt as it exploded against a nearby boulder, sending shards of rock flying. With a quick motion, he extended his hand, casting a shimmering barrier spell in front of him to block the next attack.

The lightning struck the barrier, shattering it like glass. The force of the explosion sent Alarcus skidding backward, but he stayed on his feet, gritting his teeth against the strain.

"Zetsuei, keep it busy!" he commanded.

The Alter obeyed, rushing at the demon with relentless speed. As Zetsuei attacked, Alarcus wove intricate runes in the air with his free hand, chanting under his breath. Frosty tendrils of magic coalesced at his fingertips before he thrust his hand forward.

"Flowing Ice!"

A stream of freezing energy shot toward the demon, forming jagged icicles that struck its shadowy shield. The ice began to spread, coating the demon's defensive barrier and slowing its movements.

The demon snarled, slashing at the ice with its claws, shattering it before launching another lightning orb at Alarcus.

Alarcus leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the explosion, and immediately cast another barrier spell to block the debris. Sweat dripped down his face as he struggled to keep up with the demon's relentless assault.

Alarcus clenched his fist, his voice sharp and commanding. "Zetsuei, deploy Exceed and Strike!"

Zetsuei's sleek frame shifted, and the twin appendages on its hip began to twist, reshaping themselves into gleaming, spiraling constructs that resembled oversized screwdrivers without the handle. The air grew heavy with a deep, rhythmic hum as the constructs locked into place.

The sloth demon cocked its head, its glowing red eyes narrowing in curiosity. "What now? A desperate parlor trick?"

Alarcus ignored the taunt. "Exceed, fire!"

One of the missiles detached from Zetsuei's back, spiraling forward at incredible speed. The air around it warped as it accelerated, the sharp, drilling tip aimed directly at the demon's chest.

The demon reacted too slowly, the missile slamming into its torso with devastating force. The spiraling motion drilled into the demon's shadowy flesh, causing it to stagger backward with a snarl of pain.

"Hmph. Didn't like that, did you?" Alarcus muttered, his eyes narrowing. "Strike, fire!"

The second missile launched, spinning toward the demon with equal ferocity. But this time, the creature was prepared. It sidestepped with unnatural agility, the projectile whizzing past and embedding itself deep into a nearby stone pillar.

The sloth demon smirked, clutching its wounded chest. "You only had two, didn't you?" It gestured mockingly at Zetsuei, whose back-mounted ports now sparked faintly before fading into silence.

Alarcus's jaw tightened as Zetsuei returned to its battle stance. The missile constructs were indeed a one-time use, and now the advantage they offered was gone.

"You're persistent, I'll give you that," the demon growled, launching a flurry of lightning bolts.

Alarcus ducked and dodged, weaving through the barrage while casting spells to slow the demon down. He sent another stream of ice magic toward the demon's feet, freezing the ground beneath it and causing it to lose balance.

Zetsuei seized the opportunity, darting in to strike. Its blade-like limbs sliced through the air, forcing the demon to retreat and regroup.

"You're a nuisance," the demon hissed, its eyes glowing with fury.

Before Alarcus could respond, the demon lashed out with a massive shadowy tendril, catching him off guard. The force of the blow sent him flying, slamming him into a tree with a sickening crack.

"Alarcus!" Zetsuei darted to his side, catching him before he collapsed.

Alarcus coughed, blood staining his lips. His vision blurred as he looked up at the demon, which loomed over him with a sadistic grin.

"Is this all you've got?" the demon taunted. "Pathetic."

Alarcus gritted his teeth, his mind racing. Then Reyn's voice echoed in his memory: Zetsuei has a third form. It's risky, but if you can handle it, it could turn the tide of any battle.

"Zetsuei…" Alarcus gasped, forcing himself to his feet and full of rage said. "Third form."

The Alter dissolved into streams of light that coiled around Alarcus, fusing with his body. Blue and silver armor formed over him, sleek and angular, with glowing accents that pulsed with energy. Blades extended from his arms.

The air around him grew heavy with magic, and waves of mana radiated outward, slicing through trees, rocks, and even the shadows protecting the demon.

The sloth demon staggered, its body riddled with deep gashes as it roared in pain. For the first time, its confidence faltered.

But Alarcus was barely in control. The power of Zetsuei's third form overwhelmed him, his movements erratic and destructive. He swung his bladed arms wildly, each strike releasing waves of cutting energy that obliterated everything in their path.

The sloth demon tried to retreat, but the onslaught was relentless. Its shadows, once impenetrable, dissolved under the sheer force of Alarcus's attacks.

Finally, Alarcus collapsed, the armor disintegrating as Zetsuei reverted to its original form. Both fell to the ground, motionless.

The sloth demon, though critically wounded, was still alive. It dragged itself toward Alarcus, its eyes burning with rage.

"You'll pay for this," it snarled, raising a claw to strike.

Before the demon could deliver the final blow, a faint golden glow illuminated the battlefield. Seraphine stepped out from the shadows, Excalibur's holy light radiating like the dawn breaking through the night.

The demon snarled, turning to face her. "Another insect to squash?"

Seraphine didn't flinch. "I'm not here to run or hide. I'm here to end you."

The demon lunged, claws slicing through the air, but Seraphine sidestepped with precision, her blade humming as she swung. Excalibur's light cut through the darkness like a hot knife through butter, forcing the demon back.

Breathing heavily, Seraphine knelt beside Alarcus. She gently lifted him onto her back, picking up Zetsuei as well.

"You did it," she whispered, though he was too unconscious to hear her. "Now rest."

With Alarcus and Zetsuei in tow, Seraphine made her way back to the tunnels, leaving behind the ruined battlefield and the ashes of the fallen demon.